Annapurna I Expedition

Once you arrive in the city, your crew will be there to greet you at the airport. They will help you get to your hotel and give you a brief rundown of everything you have planned. After that, you can tour the city, go shopping, or just unwind at the hotel.

You and your team will have a quick meeting today. You will review the paperwork required for permits, some climbing advice, and a travel briefing.

After your meeting, you may relax at your hotel, prepare for the next leg of your journey, or explore some of Kathmandu’s top sights, including Bouddhanath, Patan Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath, and Pashupatinath.

e will get to Pokhara, which is around 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu, on this day. Opting for the bus will let you in on a beautiful journey for around seven hours, passing by rivers, green landscapes, and high mountains.

Alternatively, you may get there in 25 to 30 minutes with a short flight.

Thereafter, when we arrive in Pokhara, we will soak ourselves in the charm of Lakeside Pokhara, enjoy relaxing boat rides, and spend the night there.

With a short bus ride today we’ll find ourselves in Nayapul. With filled stomachs, we get on our journey with views of rivers and dense forests afar.

Then, upon reaching Nayapul, we’ll start walking to Tikhedhunga. Walking on a path led by Modi Khola takes us to Annapurna Conservation Area, where we register our permits and move ahead to Tikhedhunga passing by lush woodlands and small settlements.

We will set off on a trail of ascending rocky stairs surrounded by blooming rhododendrons, creating an inspiring environment. About 5-6 hours of trekking on this route take us to Ulleri, Nangethanti, and then Ghorepani.

Ghorepani is a beautiful village and a trekking center with expansive views of the Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri Range, Macchapuchre, Nilgiri, and Lamjung Himal.

Early morning we will climb for an hour to Poon Hill, which is 3210 meters in height, to see the magnificent sight and sunrise over the tops of the mountains. From Poon Hill, you’ll get to enjoy a variety of amazing mountain vistas, including those of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna South (7119m), Fishtail (6993m), Nilgiri South, Singa Chuli, and Annapurna I (8091m).

Then, after enjoying the scenery, we’ll get back to Ghorepani for breakfast, and then move out towards Tatopani. We will be traveling over woodland terrains with abrupt shifts enriched by the natural scenery of rhododendron forests and lofty peaks.

Upon reaching Tatopani, get into a relaxing natural hot springs bath there.

We will now trek towards Ghasa moving on a path that follows the Kali Gandaki River. Following this route, we reach Rupse Chhahara then Kopchenpani, and eventually Ghasa. The trek today is relatively short and will take about 6 hours to complete.

You’ll also witness the changing landscapes as you move from green lands to arid rocky terrains.

Trekking alongside a route of lush woodlands with highland vegetation, we will pass by Dhampus Pass. Dhampus Pass is one of the vantage points on this journey that offers majestic scenery of towering mountains. Then, moving down from the pass on steep trails we’ll find ourselves in Lete, a serene village with soothing surroundings.

Today trekking approximately 12 km from Lete, we’ll arrive at the Thulo Bugin Campsite, a site surrounded by the Himalayas from all sides. Upon reaching Thulo Bugin, we’ll set up our camps and enjoy the serene surroundings of the majestic towering peaks.

The journey today will make us move on steep inclines followed by steep descents to reach Hum Khola at 4286m. As we gain more elevation, we’ll notice the surrounding change into more rugged, plain, and arid as well.

Then, continuing on the path, we’ll move across the Lete Khola and ascend into the lovely valley of Hum Khola. We’ll pitch our camps here and prepare for the night, savoring the calm surroundings.

Our journey today will allow us to experience the pristine areas in the remote Annapurna region. Navigating through the rocky terrains alongside glacier streams and moraines, we continue our ascend.

Then, we’ll get across a glacial river and move down towards Miristi Khola. Here, in this isolated spot, you will be provided with a picturesque panorama of captivating surroundings.

Finally, on the twelfth day, we’ll climb to Annapurna North Bas Camp at an astounding height of 4190m. The hike up will be challenging as you have to pass through rugged terrains and canyons which are steep and equally slippery for the snow and ice that are on the ground. You’ll have to walk carefully following the instructions of your guide.

This dangerous hike will ultimately lead us to the North Base Camp, the last destination before attempting the summit of Annapurna 1.

Now after reaching the base camp get plenty of rest to rejuvenate your body for the upcoming major trek. Recharge while appreciating the intimate views of towering massifs.

Before climbing to the top of the Annapurna I, we have to go through several intermediate base camps, strategically placed at varying heights. Initially, we’ll hike up from the base camp to Camp 1 at 5,150m, and spend a night there to acclimatize. Then, slowly we’ll hike from Camp 1 to Camp 2 (5700m) then Camp 3 (6500m), and Camp 4 (7400m).
For a couple of days, we will spend our time hiking up and down these camps to acclimatize and prepare for the final summit. Also, during these days, you will be given some climbing training as well.

Upon adequate acclimatization, we’ll set off for our final summit push. Starting from Camp 4, we’ll wake up before dawn and begin our long, challenging, and most exciting climb of the journey.

After about 8-12 hours on the tough rope-marked route of snow and ice, we will reach the top at 8,091m. Your struggles throughout the climb will be met with an awe-inspiring outlook of the Annapurna Himalayas.

Now, after savoring the triumph, we’ll cautiously descend to Camp 4, then retrace our route through Camps 3, 2, and 1 to finally base camp at 4,190m.

Fantastic! You’ve just scaled the tenth-highest peak in the world, Annapurna! Now with these overwhelming feelings of conquering Annapurna, we begin our return journey to Kathmandu.
The first stop on our return journey is Miristi Khola.

Retracing our steps, through the same steep rugged terrains passing canyons with ice and snow, we’ll reach Miristi Khola.

Moving back on the route we took before, via steep declines and rocky terrains crossing Lete Khola, and passing by the Hum Khola settlement, we arrive at Thulo Bugin. You’ll get to witness the picturesque panoramas of the stunning peaks, rock hills, and surroundings along the way.

The trek offers a scenic journey from highland landscapes into more greenery and lush woodlands. We’ll traverse a winding path that offers sights of high peaks, vibrant rhododendron forests, and terraced farmlands, and also pass by several; villages.

Moving forward on the trail, we’ll finally reach Lete, a peaceful village with lovely scenery.

We’ll begin our journey today on a well-maintained path passing through several traditional villages, allowing us to experience their rich cultures and traditions. Also, the vista of lush forests, mountains, and landscapes won’t ever leave your side throughout the trek.

Trekking on this picturesque route will lead you to Ghasa, where we’ll spend the night.

The destination today is Tatopani, which is famous for its natural hot springs. The water here is so soothing and refreshing that a bath here is said to rid all your exhaustion from a long trek.

Setting off from Ghasa, we first make our way towards Rukse Waterfall following the path along the swift river. Then, after having a good time at the waterfall, we hike to Tatopani for the next 3-4 hours.

We’ll complete the last trek of this journey today from Tatopani to Beni. With about 4-5 hours of trekking from Tatopani enjoying the scenes of terraced fields, grazing animals, rivers, and Himalayas, we get to Beni.

Next, we’ll freshen up and take a short and scenic bus ride to Pokhara. Upon reaching Pokhara, spend the night reminiscing about the beautiful moments and experiences of this expedition.

On this day, we’ll finally get back to Kathmandu via a bus or a private vehicle ride. The drive will take around 6-7 hours, and you’ll be treated to spectacular mountain views and lush forests.

After arriving in Kathmandu, take a moment to rest at your hotel before heading out to explore the city in the evening.

Your travel plans can get delayed for a number of reasons, so take this as an extra day, to explore Kathmandu City and its attractions. You can choose to tour the historical heritage sites of Kathmandu City such as the Durbar Squares, Swoyambhunath, Narayanhiti Palace, and more.

On the last day, with fond memories of the journey, your agent will guide you to the airport. You’ll leave Nepal today with immeasurable experiences, bonds, and memories of summiting the tenth-highest peak, Annapurna.